Monthly Archives: December 2016

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NO REGULAR ON-SITE WEEKEND GATHERINGS.

Rather than meet for our regular on-site weekend gatherings on Saturday, December 31st and January 1st, we’re going to give our staff, volunteers and community the opportunity to stay at home and relax.

But don’t worry, you can still experience church… IN YOUR HOME! So relax, catch your breath and be refreshed as The Orchard comes to YOU via this special audio podcast. In it you’ll find some fun conversation, a discussion of this week’s reading from the Lectionary, some discussion questions and even a little bit of music!

DISCUSSION:

3. What are some of the ways you saw the faithfulness of God in the midst of BOTH the low and high points in 2016?

4. Express Gratitude (prayer, song, etc….)

5. What opportunities do you have to trust God in 2017?

CHRISTMAS OFFERING

If you’re a part of The Orchard Community, don’t forget to participate in our 2016 Christmas Offering. We’ve had a tremendous response so far and can’t wait to see the impact we’re able to make together! You’ll be able to give your gift online anytime between now and December 31st.

Advent is a season of preparation, reflecting back, looking ahead and being thankful for what is right in front of us.

In the final week of Advent, we take a closer look at the story of Mary and Joseph and the courage it took for them to obey the will of God. Tammy reminds us that obedience doesn’t always look like what we image it might look like and that courageous acts of obedience are always preceded by much smaller acts of obedience.

Advent is a season of preparation, reflecting back, looking ahead and being thankful for what is right in front of us.

In the third week of Advent, Scott speaks about the tension in waiting and the tension between the idea of perfect Shalom and the world we actually live in. It is in between the hopes for the future and the shortcomings of reality that we are driven to embrace the Advent mantra, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We are encouraged to be patient especially in times of uncertainty and we are pushed to trust that there is something vital and important happening in the interim. Advent is an opportunity to turn our eyes toward the horizon with expectation but also to be present to the opportunity in front of us; to not just look and hope for Shalom but to be Shalom-makers in our lives.

Advent is a season of preparation, reflecting back, looking ahead and being thankful for what is right in front of us.

This weekend Scott dives into our Gospel reading from Matthew about John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ. Scott also explains the complexity of “Shalom” as meaning more than just peace, but also connectedness, wholeness, and union; and how, in this season of hope, our longing for Shalom in all aspects of our lives challenges us to prepare the way for Christ.